LAWSUIT

07.19.12

Civil Trial Against Joe Arpaio Begins

Ross D. Franklin / AP Photo

A civil trial against Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio’s anti-illegal immigration patrols began Thursday—and many consider it a prequel to the U.S. Justice Department’s case against Arpaio. Although the Justice Department is not involved in Thursday’s case, a lawyer from agency’s civil rights case watched the trial. In the current case, a group of Latinos have sued Arpaio for violating civil rights by racially profiling them. They are not seeking any monetary damages—they want a statement from Arapio’s office that their rights were violated and a requirement that the alleged discriminatory policies will be changed.